Courtesan drops into allowance following stakes win
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s not very often that an older horse wins a stakes and wheels right back in an allowance, but that will be the case Sunday when Courtesan runs for trainer Christophe Clement in the $62,800 feature at Churchill Downs.
Courtesan, a 4-year-old Street Sense filly, won a division of the Keertana on May 16 at Churchill but remained eligible for the classified restrictions that govern the ninth of 10 Sunday races. Corey Lanerie was aboard for the Keertana, and he will ride Courtesan again Sunday in the 1 1/2-mile turf race, which drew a field of seven fillies and mares.
Owned by Ramona Bass, Courtesan won for the first time in more than 18 months in the first division of the Keertana, prompting the pace and wearing down First Romance in a sustained drive. First Romance, with Francisco Torres to ride, is back to oppose Courtesan, as is Maria Maria, who was third in the Keertana.
The two other allowances on the Sunday card – both first-level turf races with $56,300 purses – are a route for fillies and mares (race 1) and a sprint for 3-year-olds and up (race 5). First post is 12:45 p.m. Eastern.
Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Courtesan (Last 3 Beyers: 88-85-84)
◗ One of a small string that Clement left behind at Keeneland following high participation at the spring meet in April, this filly has won three times in her 10-race career, but never in an allowance. Besides a division of the Keertana, she won a Saratoga maiden race and a Gulfstream stakes restricted to Florida-breds, both in 2013.
First Romance (Last 3 Beyers: 88-74-19)
◗ Trained by Tevis Q. McCauley, this 5-year-old Dynaformer mare was 23-1 when she led virtually all 12 furlongs of the Keertana, so she will be out to show that last effort was no fluke. It probably can’t hurt that there’s not much other speed signed on for this.
Maria Maria (Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-65)
◗ Third as a lukewarm favorite in the Keertana, she hasn’t skipped a beat since Steve Asmussen started giving her more distance. She also was third in the Grade 3 Bewitch in her outing prior to the Keertana. She ought to be able to save ground on all three turns under Ricardo Santana Jr.